Gokulam Kerala FC have appointed Belize national team coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese for the upcoming I-League season.
The 35-year-old Italian replaces Spaniard Santiago Varela as head coach.
Gokulam had created history last year by winning the Durand Cup under Varela, defeating heavyweights Mohun Bagan in the final in Kolkata.
Annese has immense experience in coaching clubs from Italy, Ghana, Indonesia, Latvia and Palestine. He has also coached the Armenian under-19 national team.
Annese also had five-year stint as a professional football player. He started his career at then Serie A club Venezia FC and has played in three other Italian clubs. In 2010, Annese had his first job as a manager at Italy Serie C (third division) club AS Andria Bat Young.
After a three-year coaching period at the club, he moved to Latvian First Division club Saldus FK in 2014. Later he joined Estonia Premier League club Paide L. FK as assistant coach.
During 2015 season he managed the Armenia Under-19 national team before moving to Ghana Premier League club Bechem United FC. At Bechem United, he helped the club qualify for Confederation of African Football club competition for the first time.
After gaining considerable experience in Africa he moved to Palestine, where he coached Al Ahli club and helped them to finish runners-up in West Bank Super Cup. The club was also runners-up in the Palestine Premier League that year.
He had a brief stint at Indonesian club PSIS Semarang and Kosova Premier League club Liria KF before managing Belize national team last season. He has also experience in working as a mentor coach in China.
“I am delighted to be part of GKFC family. My aim is to make the fans happy and make them dream big. I have already seen how GKFC have played last season and I believe the squad can achieve a lot,” said Vincenzo Alberto Annese.
